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then descend childless to the grave。 Three sons； and hopeful ones
too； are a rich treasure。 I rejoice when I hear of young men of
virtue and talents； worthy to receive； and likely to preserve the
splendid inheritance of self…government； which we have acquired and
shaped for them。
The complement of midshipmen for the Tripoline squadron； is
full； and I hope the frigates have left the Capes by this time。 I
have； however； this day； signed warrants of midshipmen for the two
young gentlemen you recommended。 These will be forwarded by the
Secretary of the Navy。 He tells me that their first services will be
to be performed on board the gun boats。
Accept my friendly salutations； and assurances of great esteem
and respect。
〃THE OFFICE OF HANGMAN〃
_To Larkin Smith_
_Washington； Nov。 26； 1804_
SIR； Your letter of the 10th came to hand yesterday evening。
It was written with frankness and independance and will be answered
in the same way。 You complain that I did not answer your letters
applying for office。 But if you will reflect a moment you may judge
whether this ought to be expected。 To the successful applicant for
an office the commission is the answer。 To the unsuccessful
multitude am I to go with every one into the reasons for not
appointing him？ Besides that this correspondence would literally
engross my whole time； into what controversies would it lead me。
Sensible of this dilemma； from the moment of coming into office I
laid it down as a rule to leave the applicants to collect their
answer from the facts。 To entitle myself to the benefit of the rule
in any case it must be observed in every one： and I never have
departed from it in a single case； not even for my bosom friends。
You observe that you are； or probably will be appointed an elector。
I have no doubt you will do your duty with a conscientious regard to
the public good & to that only。 Your decision in favor of another
would not excite in my mind the slightest dissatisfaction towards
you。 On the contrary I should honor the integrity of your choice。
In the nominations I have to make； do the same justice to my motives。
Had you hundreds to nominate； instead of one； be assured they would
not compose for you a bed of roses。 You would find yourself in most
cases with one loaf and ten wanting bread。 Nine must be
disappointed； perhaps become secret； if not open enemies。 The
transaction of the great interests of our country costs us little
trouble or difficulty。 There the line is plain to men of some
experience。 But the task of appointment is a heavy one indeed。 He
on whom it falls may envy the lot of a Sisyphus or Ixion。 Their
agonies were of the body： this of the mind。 Yet； like the office of
hangman it must be executed by some one。 It has been assigned to me
and made my duty。 I make up my mind to it therefore； & abandon all
regard to consequences。 Accept my salutations & assurances of
respect。
BLUEPRINT OF THE UNIVERSITY
_To Littleton Waller Tazewell_
_Washington； Jan。 5； 1805_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of December 24 never came to my hands
till last night。 It's importance induces me to hasten the answer。
No one can be more rejoiced at the information that the legislature
of Virginia are likely at length to institute an University on a
liberal plan。 Convinced that the people are the only safe
depositories of their own liberty； & that they are not safe unless
enlightened to a certain degree； I have looked on our present state
of liberty as a short…lived possession unless the mass of the people
could be informed to a certain degree。 This requires two grades of
education。 First some institution where science in all it's branches
is taught； and in the highest degree to which the human mind has
carried it。 This would prepare a few subjects in every State； to
whom nature has given minds of the first order。 Secondly such a
degree of learning given to every member of the society as will
enable him to read； to judge & to vote understandingly on what is
passing。 This would be the object of the township schools。 I
understand from your letter that the first of these only is under
present contemplation。 Let us receive with contentment what the
legislature is now ready to give。 The other branch will be
incorporated into the system at some more favorable moment。
The first step in this business will be for the legislature to
pass an act of establishment equivalent to a charter。 This should
deal in generals only。 It's provisions should go 1。 to the object of
the institution。 2。 it's location。 3。 it's endowment。 4。 it's
Direction。 On each of these heads I will hazard a first thought or
two。 1。 It's object should be defined only generally for teaching
the useful branches of science； leaving the particulars to the
direction of the day。 Science is progressive。 What was useful two
centuries ago is now become useless； e。g。 one half the professorships
of Wm & Mary。 What is now deemed useful will in some of it's parts
become useless in another century。 The visitors will be the best
qualified to keep their institution up in even pace with the science
of the times。 Every one knows that Oxford； Cambridge； the Sorbonne；
etc。 are now a century or two behind the science of the age。 2。 The
location。 The legislature is the proper judges of a general
position； within certain limits； as for instance the county in which
it shall be。 To fix on the spot identically they would not be so
competent as persons particularly appointed to examine the grounds。
This small degree of liberty in location would place the landholders
in the power of the purchasers： to fix the spot would place the
purchaser in the power of the landholder。 3。 It's endowment。 Bank
stock； or public stock of any kind should be immediately converted
into real estate。 In the form of stock it is a dead fund； it's
depreciation being equal to it's interest。 Every one must see that
money put into our funds when first established （in 1791） with all
its interest from that day would not buy more now than the principal
would then have done。 Mr。 Pitt states to parliament that the
expenses of living in England have； in the last 20 years； increased
50。 percent： that is that money has depreciated that much。 Even the
precious metals depreciate slowly so that in perpetual institutions；
as colleges； that ought to be guarded against。 But in countries
admitting paper； the abusive emissions of that produces two； three or
four courses of depreciation & annihilation in a century。 Lands will
keep _advancing_ nominally so as to keep _even_ really。 Canal shares
are as good as lands； perhaps better： but the whole funds should not
be risked in any one form。 They should be vested in the visitors；
without any power given them to lessen their capital； or even to
_change_ what is real。 4。 The Direction。 This would of course be in
the hands of Visitors。 The legislature would name the first set； &
lay down the laws of their succession。 On death or resignation the
legislature or the Chancellor might name three persons of whom the
visitors should chuse one。 The visitors should be few。 If many；
those half qualified would by their numbers bring every thing down to
the level of their own capacities； by out…voting the few of real
science。 I doubt if they should exceed five。 For this is an office
for which good sense alone does not qualify a man。 To analyse
science into it's different branches； to distribute these into
professorships； to superintend the course practiced by each
professor； he must know what these sciences are and possess their
outlines at least。 Can any state in the union furnish more than 5。
men so qualified as to the whole field of the sciences。 The Visitors
should receive no pay。 Such qualifications are properly rewarded by
honor； not by money。
The charter being granted & the Visitors named； these become
then the agents as to every thing else。 Their first objects will be
1。 the special location。 2。 the institution of professorships。 3。
the employment of their capital。 4。 the necessary buildings。 A word
on each。 1。 Special location needs no explanation。 2。
Professorships。 They would have to select all the branches of
science deemed useful at this day； & in this country： to groupe as
many of these together as could be taught by one professor and thus
reduce the number of professors to the minimum consistent with the
essential object。 Having for some years entertained the hope that
our country would some day establish an institution on a liberal
scale； I have been taking measures to have in readiness such
materials as would require time to collect。 I have from Dr。
Priestley a designation of the branches of science grouped into
professors